tranquilizer

noun

tran·​quil·​iz·​er ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlī-zər How to pronounce tranquilizer (audio)
ˈtran-
variants or less commonly tranquillizer
1
: a drug used to reduce mental disturbance (such as anxiety and tension) compare antipsychotic
2
: one that tranquilizes

Examples of tranquilizer in a Sentence

a patient who is on tranquilizers
Recent Examples on the Web And as xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer, has entered the drug supply, overdose reversals have become even more complicated: In many cases, people experiencing an overdose don’t regain consciousness even after they’re given multiple naloxone doses. Lev Facher, STAT, 8 Feb. 2024 The rise of xylazine A disturbing trend that spread into Connecticut is the use of an animal tranquilizer called xylazine. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2024 West Virginia, which remains ground zero of the U.S. opioid crisis, is taking another hit as doctors come across patients addicted to both fentanyl and the livestock tranquilizer xylazine. Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 11 Dec. 2023 Its tone, its inclusivity — Rose is trans, and Donna is fiercely protective of her amid bullying from other neighborhood kids, while UNIT scientist Shirley (Ruth Madeley) uses a wheelchair that can fire tranquilizer darts and rockets — and in its preference for emotional resonance over hard sci-fi. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2023 The five celebrities — two pairs of juvenile siblings from two Oregon packs and an adult from a third pack — were shot with tranquilizers from helicopters Sunday, then crated and flown east. Karin Brulliard, Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2023 The tranquilizer showed up in at least half of used needles in Wheeling, West Virginia and between 15% and 20% of the needles used statewide, according to data from West Virginia University. Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 11 Dec. 2023 The Israeli family takes tranquilizers to try and sleep, and to ignore the sound of the key. Valeria Verbaro, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2023 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, xylazine is a non-opioid sedative or tranquilizer approved for use only in animals. Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 16 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tranquilizer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of tranquilizer was in 1800

Dictionary Entries Near tranquilizer

Cite this Entry

“Tranquilizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tranquilizer. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tranquilizer

noun
tran·​quil·​iz·​er
variants also tranquillizer
: one that tranquilizes
especially : a drug used to reduce anxiety and nervous tension

Medical Definition

tranquilizer

noun
tran·​quil·​iz·​er
variants or chiefly British tranquillizer or tranquilliser
: a drug used to reduce mental disturbance (as anxiety and tension) see antipsychotic
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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